Published: Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 5:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, December 15, 2013 at 5:06 p.m.

About 40 participants braved icy temperatures and stinging winds to sing Christmas songs Sunday in front of the Historic Courthouse, part of Four Seasons Compassion for Life's holiday celebration.

The inaugural "Songs for the Seasons" event was organized by Four Seasons, the region's largest nonprofit provider of end-of-life care, to bring some holiday cheer to the community.

The group's Tree of Lights celebration, a remembrance of loved ones lost, was once held at Jackson Park and later in front of the courthouse, said Dot Moyer, chairwoman of Four Seasons' Board of Directors.

Since it moved to the group's campus on South Allen Road two years ago, the hospice has been looking for a way to augment Tree of Lights in a way "that was festive and fun for the whole community," Moyer said. The singalong seemed the perfect fit.

Paige Posey, whose mother received end-of-life care through Four Seasons, organized a holiday band for the event, including her husband Mark Warwick on guitar, her son Tucker on bass, George Wilkins Jr. on keys, Bill Munoz on drums and singers Neela Munoz and Sharon Stokes.

"It pays to have friends that you can just call when you need them," Posey said.

Led by the half-frozen musicians, the crowd belted out holiday classics including "Silver Bells," "The First Noel," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

Dale Bartlett braved the 35-degree wind chill to join in and show his support for Four Seasons, which he called "a great organization." Both of Bartlett's parents benefited from hospice, his father 30 years ago and his mother a year ago.

"My first experience with hospice was as a teenager," Bartlett said. "It just made the whole experience of saying goodbye to my father easier. And it allowed him to be at home with us, where he wanted to be."

In between carols, Posey sang the praises of Four Seasons' outreach, pointing out that the organization now serves 62 percent of all end-of-life patients in six counties: Buncombe, Henderson, Macon, Jackson, Transylvania, and Swain.

"And it can't be done with the generosity of our volunteers," she said.

Mark Warwick, general manager of WTZQ, said he's been amazed by how much progress that Four Seasons has made since he was on its board in the 1990s. The group's Elizabeth House in Flat Rock has expanded from 12 to 19 beds, he said, "and no longer do you have to explain to anyone what hospice means."

<p>About 40 participants braved icy temperatures and stinging winds to sing Christmas songs Sunday in front of the Historic Courthouse, part of Four Seasons Compassion for Life's holiday celebration. </p><p>The inaugural "Songs for the Seasons" event was organized by Four Seasons, the region's largest nonprofit provider of end-of-life care, to bring some holiday cheer to the community.</p><p>The group's Tree of Lights celebration, a remembrance of loved ones lost, was once held at Jackson Park and later in front of the courthouse, said Dot Moyer, chairwoman of Four Seasons' Board of Directors. </p><p>Since it moved to the group's campus on South Allen Road two years ago, the hospice has been looking for a way to augment Tree of Lights in a way "that was festive and fun for the whole community," Moyer said. The singalong seemed the perfect fit.</p><p>Paige Posey, whose mother received end-of-life care through Four Seasons, organized a holiday band for the event, including her husband Mark Warwick on guitar, her son Tucker on bass, George Wilkins Jr. on keys, Bill Munoz on drums and singers Neela Munoz and Sharon Stokes.</p><p>"It pays to have friends that you can just call when you need them," Posey said. </p><p>Led by the half-frozen musicians, the crowd belted out holiday classics including "Silver Bells," "The First Noel," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." </p><p>Dale Bartlett braved the 35-degree wind chill to join in and show his support for Four Seasons, which he called "a great organization." Both of Bartlett's parents benefited from hospice, his father 30 years ago and his mother a year ago.</p><p>"My first experience with hospice was as a teenager," Bartlett said. "It just made the whole experience of saying goodbye to my father easier. And it allowed him to be at home with us, where he wanted to be."</p><p>In between carols, Posey sang the praises of Four Seasons' outreach, pointing out that the organization now serves 62 percent of all end-of-life patients in six counties: Buncombe, Henderson, Macon, Jackson, Transylvania, and Swain.</p><p>"And it can't be done with the generosity of our volunteers," she said.</p><p>Mark Warwick, general manager of WTZQ, said he's been amazed by how much progress that Four Seasons has made since he was on its board in the 1990s. The group's Elizabeth House in Flat Rock has expanded from 12 to 19 beds, he said, "and no longer do you have to explain to anyone what hospice means."</p><p>Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.</p>